New here with some stupid questions

[Maybe Going EV]

What is your familiarity with home electrical panels? It is rarely the case that a level 2 charger can't be added to a home electrical system. It's not impossible but it is something that is frequently misunderstood, which is totally understandable.

The reason people keep coming back to a 240V charger is because we can't imagine living without one. I relieved on 120V for a couple weeks before my charger was installed and it was a bad experience. The charger greatly improves the utility of the truck in most instances.

When we began talking about getting a lightning probably 4 months ago now, I had an electrician I know come look, and his comment was that to add a charger to the house, we would have to lose something else, perhaps our hot tub was his suggestion. The wife and I laughed so hard, because the hot tub would be the last thing we get rid of.
I would sell the stove before the hot tub.
Maybe another electrian would have a different opinion, but that was his.
We do have some baseboard heaters that we never use, that could go I guess.
But it still seems like a 120 outlet should charge the battery, especially when it will regularly sit for days at a time undriven.
Last year we put 17,139 kms on our Ram 1500 total. Some of that was a trip, where we would have to charge an EV many times away from home anyway, and burnt many tanks of gas in our Ram. That trip was almost 3,000 kms, over 19 days.

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[RickKeen]

When we began talking about getting a lightning probably 4 months ago now, I had an electrician I know come look, and his comment was that to add a charger to the house, we would have to lose something else, perhaps our hot tub was his suggestion. The wife and I laughed so hard, because the hot tub would be the last thing we get rid of.
I would sell the stove before the hot tub.
Maybe another electrian would have a different opinion, but that was his.
We do have some baseboard heaters that we never use, that could go I guess.
But it still seems like a 120 outlet should charge the battery, especially when it will regularly sit for days at a time undriven.
Last year we put 17,139 kms on our Ram 1500 total. Some of that was a trip, where we would have to charge an EV many times away from home anyway, and burnt many tanks of gas in our Ram. That trip was almost 3,000 kms, over 19 days.

Take a look at the Emporia charger. It works with the Emporia load sensing tool and throttles down the charging when other heavy loads are detected (like the hot tub). It might take a bit longer to charge if your hot tub heater is cycling on a lot in the winter, but it might be a really good option for those who cannot easily upgrade their electrical service.

https://shop.emporiaenergy.com/prod...MIsvqklrHciAMV61gPAh0kdA38EAAYASAAEgLUGvD_BwE

 

[Henry Ford]

But it still seems like a 120 outlet should charge the battery, especially when it will regularly sit for days at a time undriven.

You will be disappointed in your truck if you try to get by with a 120V charger. If you are unable or unwilling to use 240V I strongly suggest not buying an EV.

 

[Maybe Going EV]

Wife has arranged for a demo truck next week for 24 hours.
She wants one, so wants to see how well it does being plugged into 120 in our garage over night.

 

[potato]

Wife has arranged for a demo truck next week for 24 hours.
She wants one, so wants to see how well it does being plugged into 120 in our garage over night.

I'd expect about 1% an hour or maybe a little less. I'm sure you will love driving it... charging, I'm not quite as sure lol. You did say you had 240 in the shop, just inconvenient to get to? Maybe that can be your fallback plan if you really need a better charge rate some time.

 

[RickLightning]

Wife has arranged for a demo truck next week for 24 hours.
She wants one, so wants to see how well it does being plugged into 120 in our garage over night.

Math.

It will add 1.1kW per hour of charging. You can't get more, or less.

On an ER, that is 1.1/131=0.84% of battery. On an SR it is 1.1/98=1.1%.

At roughly 1.8 miles per kWh, maybe 2.4 locally, do the math.

 

[John Becker]

Generally speaking, 120 V would be adequate for my needs. I always have the option to drive ICE when needed.
I read somewhere that 240 V is more efficient. The efficiency difference can't be anywhere near the cost of running a 240 V line to my garage. But I did it anyway.
Regardless, I charge at the lowest setting (16 Amps) and only to 60% most days.

 

[Mashedtators]

Wife has arranged for a demo truck next week for 24 hours.
She wants one, so wants to see how well it does being plugged into 120 in our garage over night.

I averaged 1.5-2.5km per hour on a 20amp plug before I installed my level two charger.

 

[Zprime29]

120v is adequate for low usage IF and only IF you live in a mild weather climate. I rarely get under 40F here, so if I where only driving once or twice a week then 120v would be fine. Since you live in a very cold climate, 240v is a must or your battery and range will suffer badly in the winter. I would get another electrician out there, ask for one who is familiar with EV's. The Emporia option is a fantastic one as well, great company.

 

[Maybe Going EV]

I'd expect about 1% an hour or maybe a little less. I'm sure you will love driving it... charging, I'm not quite as sure lol. You did say you had 240 in the shop, just inconvenient to get to? Maybe that can be your fallback plan if you really need a better charge rate some time.

Yes, I always thought if we really need to we can park in the big shop and plug it into 240.
Daily it will be in the small garage on 120.
1% an hour is way more than we need for charging.
0.5% per hour would be more than enough.
Considering that in a typical week will use about 25% to 35% of the battery, and it will be plugged in 150 to 160 hours a week, it is already more than is needed on 120 volts.
A woman from Ford returned my call this morning, and spent 20 minutes on the phone with me.
She recommends keeping it between 15% and 90% charged as much as possible, saying that 50% is the optimal charge. She explained to me that actually 120 volt charging is the best for the battery, as slow charging is easier on it, than quick charging is. She added that it should only be charged to 100% if needed for say a lengthy trip, and try not to run it below 15% unless we have to on a trip, or such.

A neighbor of hers owns a Lightning, and they only have 120 volt charging at home, which is plenty for them. After my call with her, she recommended that we ask for a 72 hour demo of a lightning. Since it was the wife who requested an extended test drive to begin with, she called back, and we are going to pick it up next friday at 2pm, and return it the following Monday at 2pm. My wife is much more into getting an EV than I am. Me, I would have just bought another Ram fuel burner.
Worst case scenario we hate it after a couple of years, we can sell it, and buy a gas burner. Wife also suggested that in winter time, for long trips, taking our biggest honda generator along, and gas can, just incase we need it.
Our little Honda wouldn't do much, so not much point in hauling it around.

 

[Maybe Going EV]

Math.

It will add 1.1kW per hour of charging. You can't get more, or less.

On an ER, that is 1.1/131=0.84% of battery. On an SR it is 1.1/98=1.1%.

At roughly 1.8 miles per kWh, maybe 2.4 locally, do the math.

Thank you for this, and 0.84% per hour is more than enough for our regular needs.
On trips, we will use charge stations.

A typical week without extra trips we drive 120 to 130 kms, which is approximately 73 to 80 miles, or a small part of the ER battery, which for me would be a must, not the regular smaller battery.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I think you've answered your own question: 120v power is just fine, for now, or even the foreseeable future...

you can always add 240v, if you wish...

Let your needs dictate your choice, not everyone else's ...

 

[Maybe Going EV]

120v is adequate for low usage IF and only IF you live in a mild weather climate. I rarely get under 40F here, so if I where only driving once or twice a week then 120v would be fine. Since you live in a very cold climate, 240v is a must or your battery and range will suffer badly in the winter. I would get another electrician out there, ask for one who is familiar with EV's. The Emporia option is a fantastic one as well, great company.

Thanks.
The good thing is that it will spend most of its life inside the garage, which we always keep above freezing temperatures. If needed, we can always turn the heat up a bit more as well if we find it doesn't like being as cold as it does get in there.
About the coldest it ever gets in the garage is 5C, but we have no reason to keep it really hot now. The Ram starts like a dream if the engine is at 5C.
If the Lightning hates 5 degrees, we can turn it up to 10, 15, or 20 easily, we keep our house at 23 in winter.

 

[Zprime29]

Thanks.
The good thing is that it will spend most of its life inside the garage, which we always keep above freezing temperatures. If needed, we can always turn the heat up a bit more as well if we find it doesn't like being as cold as it does get in there.
About the coldest it ever gets in the garage is 5C, but we have no reason to keep it really hot now. The Ram starts like a dream if the engine is at 5C.
If the Lightning hates 5 degrees, we can turn it up to 10, 15, or 20 easily, we keep our house at 23 in winter.

It's a great truck, as long as your expectations are realistic. Seems like you are doing your due diligence so you should be fine if you determine it suits your needs. We're definitely not holding back or sugar coating it for ya

 

[Maybe Going EV]

I think you've answered your own question: 120v power is just fine, for now, or even the foreseeable future...

you can always add 240v, if you wish...

Let your needs dictate your choice, not everyone else's ...

Thanks.
The more I read, talk to people, it seems like 120 volts meets our needs.

Also happy wife, happy life.

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